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How to Create a Death Altar

A Sacred Space for Remembrance, Grief, and Ongoing Connection


how to create a death altar
Disclaimer: Indi Star Cards does not claim to own this image. Photographer unknown.

A death altar isn’t about closure. It’s about presence.


Creating an altar for someone who has passed can be a grounding, comforting way to honor their memory, process your grief, and stay open to moments of connection. This altar can also serve you in moments when you are feeling ready to let something go from your life (a habit, relationship, belief, etc.). Whether your altar is permanent or temporary, simple or elaborate, it becomes a space where loss is witnessed and love continues.


Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a death altar that feels personal, meaningful, and grounded.


How to Create a Death Altar


Step 1: Choose a Location


Your altar doesn’t need to be large or public. It can be a corner of a shelf, a space on your nightstand, a spot near a window, or a temporary setup on a cloth or tray.


Choose somewhere that feels:

  • Safe and quiet

  • Easy to return to when you need it

  • Aligned with your intention (daily ritual, seasonal remembrance, release ceremony, etc.)



Step 2: Set Your Intention


Take a moment to name what this altar is for. Are you creating it to:

  • Honor a loved one’s memory?

  • Say goodbye?

  • Invite spiritual connection?

  • Offer a space to grieve?

  • Let go of an outdated belief?


Naming your intention helps shape what comes next. You can speak it aloud, write it down, or simply hold it in your heart.



Step 3: Gather Personal Objects


Choose a few items that remind you of the person or symbolize your relationship with them. These might include:

  • A photograph

  • An object they loved or used

  • A letter you’ve written to them

  • A piece of clothing, jewelry, or fabric

  • Something that symbolizes your connection (e.g., seashells, feathers, art, a shared memory)


There is no right or wrong here. Let your choices be intuitive.



Step 4: Add Symbolic Elements


You may want to include items that hold spiritual or emotional meaning:

  • A candle (to represent presence or memory)

  • Flowers or plants (to symbolize life, grief, and transformation)

  • Crystals, stones, or natural materials

  • A bowl of water or salt for cleansing energy

  • Spirit communication cards or a single card pull


These elements don’t have to hold religious meaning; they just need to feel resonant.



Step 5: Create a Ritual or Practice


Once the altar is created, decide how you want to use it. This could be:

  • Sitting quietly with a candle lit

  • Saying their name out loud

  • Pulling a spirit card and reflecting

  • Leaving fresh flowers on anniversaries

  • Writing letters or journaling nearby

  • Placing a hand on your heart and breathing


You don’t need to visit it daily. You just need to know it’s there when you need it.



Step 6: Keep It Fluid


Your altar doesn’t have to stay the same. You might add new objects over time, remove others, rearrange things, or pack it away when the season shifts.


The altar isn’t about permanence. It’s about allowing your grief and your connection to evolve.


Creating a death altar is a way to honor not just who they were, but who you continue to be, with them still woven into your story.


 
 
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